Interactive Storybook: The Night Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth

The Night the Angels Sang

An interactive story from the Gospel of Luke

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The Quiet Night on the Hill

I, Luke, have heard many stories, but few are as full of wonder as this one. Let us go back in our minds to the land of Judea, near the small town of Bethlehem—the very town of King David!

It was a cold night, darker than pitch. Strong, kind men called shepherds were awake, keeping watch over their sheep. They leaned on their staffs, watching the stars blaze above.

Suddenly, something happened!

The dark night was not dark anymore...

The Glory of the Lord!

A light so bright, so powerful, shone all around them. The shepherds were terrified!

"Fear not!"

The Angel's Great News

"I bring you good tidings of great joy," the Angel declared. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

The angel gave them a special sign. "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in , lying in a ."

Click the highlighted words to learn more about these ancient customs.

The Heavens Burst into Song

Suddenly, the sky exploded with a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God with all their might!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Go and See!

As the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see the wonderful thing God had made known to them. This is their journey.

1. The Shepherds Decide

2. They Go With Haste

3. They Find the Babe

4. They Tell Everyone

Click a step to read what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shepherds had to stay with their flocks 24 hours a day, especially during the lambing season, to protect the sheep from wild animals like wolves and thieves. This was a normal, necessary job in ancient Israel.

Swaddling clothes were long strips of cloth commonly used by mothers in ancient Jewish culture to wrap newborn babies tightly. This was believed to keep the baby warm, safe, and secure.

The city of David is another name for Bethlehem, the small town just south of Jerusalem. It was called this because the great King David was born there many centuries earlier.

Swaddling Clothes

These were long strips of cloth. In ancient Jewish culture, mothers wrapped their newborn babies tightly to keep them warm, safe, and secure.

A Manger

This wasn't a fancy crib. It was a simple feeding trough for animals, usually made of stone or wood. A very humble first bed for a King!